{{Short description|Roman bronze coin}} {{Other uses|Semi (disambiguation){{!}}Semi}} {{For|the French wine grape|Semis rouge}} {{Refimprove|date=November 2024}} {{Italics title}} thumb|right|200px|Cast ''semissis'' thumb|right|200px
The '''''semis''''' ({{literally|half of an as}}) was a small Roman bronze coin that was valued at half an ''as''. During the Roman Republic, the ''semis'' was distinguished by an 'S' (indicating ''semis'') or 6 dots (indicating a theoretical weight of 6 ''unciae''). Some of the coins featured a bust of Saturn on the obverse, and the prow of a ship on the reverse.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coin - Semis, Aes Grave, Ancient Roman Republic, 225-217 BC |url=https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1332743 |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Museums Victoria Collections}}</ref>
Initially a cast coin, like the rest of Roman Republican bronzes, it began to be struck from dies shortly before the Second Punic War (218–201 BC). Following the Augustan Coinage reforms of 23 BC the ''semis'' became the smallest orichalcum (brass) denomination, having twice the value of a copper ''quadrans'' and half the value of the copper ''as''. Its size and diameter corresponded directly to the ''quadrans'', so its value was attained from brass having double the value of copper. The coin was issued infrequently and it ceased to be issued by the time of Hadrian (117–138 AD).
In the early Imperial period, a ''semis'' could buy a ''cerae'' (wax writing tablet).
==See also== *Roman currency
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons|Semissis}} {{Roman coinage}}
Category:Coins of ancient Rome Category:Numismatics Category:Bronze coins
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